Tuesday Twaddle

The sun is remarkably low in the sky these mornings, at least on the mornings when the clouds clear to allow us to see him.  He is still shining now, several hours and one trip to Tesco later.  I'm sorry to say that up Aberdeen way they are having early sleet showers, but they of course are used to this, not us down here in the warmest part of England. 5c or 40f at the moment!

Another day, another royal 'Bombshell' book.

This one takes the side of Meghan and Harry, which goes against the grain for the London tabloids.  They have already decided she Meghan is bad and Kate is good.  The truth is that both are woman on the make, both run their husbands, and neither are anything like what the press has painted them to be.

Few people really know what the individual royals are like in person, our image is cloned from the press lies, books written by hangers-on and chancers, and a few public appearances.  The life led by anyone born into the royal household is not one most of us would welcome.  While we can guess some attitudes and personality of many royals we lack clear understanding of their position.  Some clearly have a 'duty' sense,' others, the younger ones, less so.  

And what of the future?   

Charlie might last ten years, which will annoy William, and especially Kate who I think is keen to be queen.  Maybe she ought to let the kids grow up first.  The rest will continue to annoy one another while fighting for position and a handful of wealth and 'prestige.'  Good for them.

But their days are numbered.  Scotland has for  along time considered the royals a waste of time.  Many elsewhere take a similar attitude.  While the folks around Balmoral Castle enjoy their presence, and the tourists who follow them, a recent survey reveals that 36% of Scots wish to keep the royals, 48% did not.  This of course may have changed month by month.  Charlie scooping up the cash from dead people with no next of kin did not go down well.  The royals millions, their jet set lifestyle, the cash spent on frocks, all tend to put people off when they are struggling to pay the gas bill.  

Add to this the disinterest in Scotland shown by Willie and his woman it is clear he will not make a successful King of Scots, not that he would car I suggest.  

It is time for a sensible debate regarding the royals, before Charlie goes.  There may not be a sensible debate after that time.

Christmas is going well.  The 2nd hand truck my niece wants for her kid, she always buys 2nd hand, has arrived here.  When I have finished playing with it I will post it on, eventually!  This afternoon I will do the cards that I have obtained, and hope to send some off by the 1st December, just to remind folks to get one for me!

A Supper Party - 1903   Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1855-1919)

Dreich Again

The rain pitter-patting outside greeted me this morning.  Had it been pitter-patting inside I may have woken earlier.  I trudged through to the East Wing, agitating the dust on the carpet, brushed aside a cobweb or two from the electric kettle and made tea.

As I clumped up to Sainsburys through the saturated streets, I noticed the sodden pigeons in the park seeking breakfast, oblivious to the rain or the puddles on the pathways.  As I entered the store I greeted the security man, as I did so the water slithered of my cap onto his mobile phone.  I did not snigger.  He did not laugh, but did follow me around on my trail for a while.  Too early for the girls to be on the checkout I made for the self-service counters.  These were busy, and the one woman in charge busier yet.  "Someone is coming to help you," cried one machine after another.  I began to formulate an idea re criminal punishments.  I wondered if instead of 'community service' whatever that is, criminal had to operate the self-service department in supermarkets.  If they were not already psycho then they would be after 24 hours in charge of these!  However, surprisingly nothing went wrong!  I put the stuff through, paid, took the receipt and six needless bits of paper offering extra points for things I bought once a year ago, and went back out into the downpour.  

Splashing my way home I noticed a young man, well dressed, but unfortunately dressed as one of the characters from 'Peaky Blinders' or whatever that was called.  I suppose he is trying to make out he is some sort of 'hard man.'  I would have encouraged him to travel up north and wander around parts of Glasgow dressed this way had he not been on the other side of the street.  I suspect he would dress differently after s day in Bridgeton Cross or the Gorbals.

So the day is set.

Yesterday I made Chilli, and put four bowls into the freezer.  I also attempted Flapjacks, according to an old recipe I once used a lot.  These were a wee bit soft, that is they fell apart.  Maybe next time.  Today, it is chicken casserole for the freezer.  Good grief, any more of this and I will do the ironing, clean the house and dress as a woman and claim all their advantages!  Self ID appears to be the way today. 

The media is full of a terrible incident, Gary Lineker, the well known football presenter, has spoken the truth!  The right-wing have risen as one to attack him and defend the fascist Home Secretary.

The Home Secretary proposed and won with a bill to stop asylum seekers reaching the shores via small boats coming across the channel.  She claimed a hundred million can claim the right to land here, in one paper the term 'billions' is used concerning those who may seek to arrive in the UK.

Gary's tweet brought out all the bile reserved for those who speak truthfully.  Naturally all the 'right' Tories have arrived to defend a woman they all know to be incompetent.  The Daily Mail has more stories on Gary than on the royal family today.  Not even Meghan gets a look in here.  The BBC, in an effort to defend its 'impartiality,' called Gary in for a word re 'impartiality' on tweets.  The BBC has a board of 12, 9 of whom belong to the Tory Party.   The BBC has a Chairman who has donated £500,000 to the Tory Party and arranged a loan of much more for Boris (or was that the Director General? Corruption looks the same in suits)  The Director General stood as a Tory candidate in Hammersmith and has removed almost every journalist offers an objective view on the political situation.  All newsreaders and the ones behind them are Tory led, all political programmes are Tory dominated, few opponents are allowed to speak.  With this as the situation it is hard to understand why Gary's comments are threatening 'impartiality.'  Interestingly, I am told the BBC did not lead with the Bill itself, they led on Gary's Tweet!

The UK has voted, under the lie of Brexit, for a right-wing coup.  This has succeeded and we do not know where this will lead.  It is two years before the next General Election, though something may arrive that changes this, and we have a corrupt and inefficient government, an opposition wearing Tory clothes (which is understandable as they do not know what a 'woman' is),  and the outlook is not a positive one for this country.  

I tell you this is a judgement.

Morning

Another day of joy ahead of us this morning I thought.  Red sky, brighter than the picture offers, filled the view from the filthy back window.  As always I thought, 'Red sky in morning, shepherds warning.'  I expected a disaster to follow.  This has failed to arrive, though it did rain slightly, even the sky gets it wrong occasionally.  

I had much to say but luckily I ate instead and now have nothing to say.

I blame the sky.

Venus, The Morning Star

At seven this morning I glanced out east at the bright morning star.  

The picture is not as clear as I would like, I remained stiff, the open window was allowing the frost laden wind to enter, and I was still half asleep.  I still am.

The 'Morning Star,' is usually the planet Venus hanging about just before sunrise.  Occasionally its place is taken by Mercury during July to September, or Sirius at other times.  

Jesus is of course referred to as the 'Morning Star,' and John Wycliffe was called the 'Morning Star of the Reformation.  'Morning Star,' was the name of a Cheyanne Leader, also known as 'Dull Knife,' though I suspect not to his face.  The USA, as you may have expected, has several small towns called 'Morning Star,' for reasons unknown and I canny be bothered to look.       

Several Ships have carried this name including six Royal Naval vessels dating from a Dutch Ketch captured in 1672 to an 'M' Class Destroyer launched in 1915, and a Broad Guage locomotive was built by the Great Western Railway in 1839 and called by this name.  This was intended for sale to the USA.

'The Morning Star' is of course a somewhat left leaning London based paper.   Known once as the 'Daily Worker,' it was unashamedly Communist, now under the new name it struggles to survive and leans towards the Labour Party.  I suspect none of the 'Workers' involved come from a working class background.  Most true Socialists today are Middle Class and have never done a proper days work in their lives.  Just saying like.

Films and TV have made use of the name, songs abound as do albums, musicals and even a variety of cannabis, though you will know more about that than I do.  

This reflects the effect the 'Morning Star' has upon the people when we see it rise.  The fact that the vast majority have never seen it, most not rising before sunrise, is not worth considering.  The sight, not reflected very well by the picture, of a bright shining Morning Star against a deep blue background, sometimes accompanied by a crescent moon can live in the memory.  Maybe that is why this is replicated on the Pakistan Flag?

Now I have scribbled this I am back off to bed...

 

 

A Wander in the Sunshine

In a vain effort to find life again I took off quite early for Tesco.  Saturday morning among the masses is often invigorating.  It was however, like the misty glinting sunshine, quite peaceful and the healthy ingredients sought were soon found.  Healthy, that is those rumoured to stimulate the brain, Bluberries and very dark chocolate for instance, were joined by Flax, Chia seeds and Hemp, the latter for one of my nieces husband's Christmas's, he will probably think it will get him high.  He is one of those convinced cannabis is the answer to all problems, from cancer to covid.  This, he attempts to prove but he so far has not been successful.

The rest is for my latest health trend, and having paid through the nose for these goods, along with my other calorie controlled foodstuffs, I should look like Charles Atlas by Christmas.

This may not however, be the case.

 

I had to look twice at these balls hanging on the trees.  These trees were only planted a few years ago, 10 maybe, and I do not remember any fruit on them last year, though I could be mistaken.  'Conkers,' all around, at least the outer shells, as it appears some kids have been having a go at them already.  The more mature trees all around have certainly passed their fruit onto the public as the mess around their feet reveals.  Many a child, and not a few adults, will now be enjoying themselves with such on pieces of string.  Entertainment is easy, computers or no.

 

 

Having walked home from Tesco carrying a heavy but healthy bag it is almost a delight to walk without any weight attached.  Having lost a stone and a half I rather hoped walking would ease, it looks like another stone must go.  At least once that stone has gone my old shirts may fit once again.  

A sun drenched public garden, with a bit of early haze, is a delightful thing.  All were happy apart from at least once screaming child, the fruit of the children's play area at the top end.   
 

The last of the roses blossomed happily in the sun.  A large bush, almost a tree, once full now with only this lot left in any decent condition.  The volunteers who help the gardners do a great job of keeping these plants going.  

 

The idea was to walk round and energise the bulk, instead I felt my knees objecting.  Naturally, this park is on a slope, and to go homewards meant going uphill.  I await my lottery win so I can employ a servant to drive me uphill when my knees tire.  This however, may be an unfulfilled dream.

I wandered about, as always getting strange looks from women with kids, clearly women who read 'those stories' and listen to 'old women's tales,' and most of them appear neurotic as a result.  Even young dad's look sheepish, though that might be because they are not used to doing such work as watching kids.  

 

As I headed towards the gate I saw this man stiing low down and apparently unaware I was approaching.  Moving slowly along the path I got two decent shots of him before he felt he had posed enough and disappeared under the bush.   Usually Robins are very wary, quickly flitting out of distance and hiding in the tree.  This one may have been asking himself what life was all about, or where has the wife gone, or wondering what football was on today.  He appeared preoccupied but once he moved he did not show up again to ponder.

I don't think much of this fountain myself, it's all a bit weird I say.  There is a rumour it represents a kid who drowned in the river.  I don't blame him if he thought they would do this to him!

I kept going when common snense told me to return home, eat and sleep.  Common sense is as you know in short supply these days and it failed to appear with me also.  Instead I continued up the slope, across the town, passed all the workers still attempting to finish refurbishing the High Street, and noticed the old church had a door open.  I peeked in, something was going on, so I entered and enquired off the two young ladies on guard what was amiss?  "It's a Ladies Day," they said grinning.

I made my excuses and left!

I wandered into 'Clintons' Card shop and glanced at the horrendous Christmas stock on display, almost none of which was suitable for my needs.  However, I purchased three £25 Amazon cards towards the Christmas present stock and was picked up off the floor by the helpful young woman working the till after I fainted when I realised just how much I was paying for this.  She grinned as I explained the vast number of women I had to serve in the family and how I was failing to remember the pin number I have used for almost 30 years.  A very helpful young woman, not unsual around here I must say.

Heading home I met a young man from the Kirk and we put the church world to rights, OK I mean we grumbled a lot, and then were joined in our grumbling by one of his old workmates, so our grumbling widened to include much of the local world.  In all, this was a very enjoyable imitation of a group of gossipping old women.  I then headed home much to my knees relief and now await the Scotland football team playing Israel for the (I think) ninth time in 3 years!  The draw for competitions must be changed I say.  

Walking...

The north eastern wind had died down considerably.  The light was filling the space between the ragged curtains.  I was awake and not sleepy enough to go back to sleep, sadly.  There was nothing for it but to rise early and head for Tesco.

Tesco has become the centre of life these days.  With the chill in the air and the police limits of walking I rarely venture out.  With no reason to use a scarce bus I have nowhere to go but the town around me, that I know only too well.  Tesco, or Sainsburys visits now mean adventure and human contact.  Whether it means adventure to the Sainsburys staff I cannot really say.

So, dressed for an Arctic trip, coat on, shoes on feet, cap on head I open the door on the day.  A car passes, a second one travels the other way then silence falls.  Just before 8 am and silence?  The rush hour ought to be beginning but few are about.  I cross the street and deposit another ‘return to sender’ in the pillar box.  These come with the leaving of tenants.  This one returns for the last time, from now on they can send the Debt Collectors in.  These are easy to spot, almost all the same, offering nice words and easy ways to pay, knowing the culprit has flown.  I wonder why they bother?  I wonder also about people who so easily avoid paying bills.  Some have clearly obtained a credit card not too long before they flee, continue using said card for a while and are not available to pay the bill.  Easy credit costs credit companies, no matter how much they make from the card.  It is difficult to feel sympathy for credit cards that get cheated however, they rip us off quite happily.

I wander passed the gates of the police station expecting a man in Stasi uniform to appear and question my motives.  None appears, I continue noting the Spring like garden that looks great in the sun but somewhat weary when that sun hides behind the clouds as he does this morning.  Nothing moves.  Even the birds are quiet in this street.  At the main road I see three people, well apart, at the temporary bus stops.  This has been required as the town council, or at least some of them, are constructing a ‘white elephant’ beside this road.  A hotel, doctors’ surgery and restaurants!  Wonderful!  Except that apart from the doctors we do not require this monstrosity.  For over 20 years they, or at least the Leader, has been desperate to fill this space, why we ask and how much will he make out of it cynics wish to know?  Funnily enough the planning people did not oppose this plan.

I was not surprised to see an early queue outside Tesco.  A wee bit miffed that the barriers erected for the crowds meant a long walk to the rear to join the queue.  The queue was all male, each six feet or so from the man in front, each also carrying that vague smile that wondered whether all this was really necessary but accepted it all the same.  No-one spoke, though we did exchange glances that spoke.  Individuals joined us, also all male, each revealing his own thoughts with a glance.  One man wore a face mask, and stood out.  He was young, most of us are no longer young.  We slowly moved, one customer at a time, bringing to mind soup kitchen lines from the 1930’s or Prisoners of war awaiting feeding time as we neared the door.  Once the woman in charge allowed us in, we were instructed to sanitise our hands before we could continue.  Informed that we left by the other door, and I, like the rest, smiled submission and hastened in before more orders arrived.

Extra sour faced security were on patrol, each trying to look tough, each in danger of provoking mirth.  However, I suspect they will get work during the day from the towns less beloved characters.  

Being organised it did not take me long to get round, avoid most people, easy when dealing with a shop full of males of course, and quickly get to the checkout, once I had worked out how to get there past the blocked aisles, so that then as I paid I recalled the things not on the shopping list that I ought to have remembered.    

Enough bought for a week.  Two heavy bags and a bill to pay.  How I miss buying when I need it and not for a week!  I crawled home passing shops bearing notices informing the regulars that the they are closed because of the virus.  I look longingly in at the barbers, I need him now, not in the unknown future.  My Hippy style may return, but slightly greyer this time.

Back home I forget to spend the day tidying and watch old films made during the war to inform us how ‘Bomber Command’ and ‘Coastal Command’ did their jobs.  These, with somewhat still scripts, made use of the men, including senior officers, to inform the nation how they went about their business.  All a bit stiff but informed the nation in a time of stress.  Indeed, the war had a long way to go while such films were being made and the intention was to ‘gee up’ the people and allow them to see what all sides of the services were going through.  I wonder if such a film could be made today to show what is happening in the nation regarding this virus war?   I fear our cynicism may render that impossible.

This afternoon I ventured out once again, the excitement might be killing for some, following two part time joggers and a couple of kids on bikes.  Exercise time for us all.  I wandered around, enjoying the freedom, avoiding any who came near, women tending to think 15 feet is still not sufficient space, and climbed back up the hill and across the park considering myself to have walked a marathon.  It was half a mile if anything.  Few were around, some traffic on the main road, fewer than normal and none on the small roads.  

Such is my life now.

The routine has changed with no football and lock down.  Silence reigns at night with little traffic or passing footsteps.  Only the noise from my phone as people I ought not to have given my number to call for no good reason!  It is slightly boring now.  What will it be like in the weeks and months to come? 

If you think this post boring, wait until August!  

Tuesday Toddle

Not long after 7:30 I ambled out into the bright morning sun.  The wind was blowing lightly from the north east leaving a white film of frost upon the scene.  Having a big car did not stop Jack Frost alighting on you.

I passed Sainsburys, fooled at first into thinking it was not open, realising later they were just controlling the numbers entering, for safety's sake.  This mattered not to me as I was heading for Tesco.   At first the lack of people fooled me here also, was it open?  In fact few people were around, and inside a similar control system was in operation.  The staff directing customers to keep apart and use certain doors.  All good and proper I thought.  I was less happy as they then chose to close the aisles I was heading for.  Stock was low, a consignment had just arrived and they closed the aisles to fill the shelves quickly.  Why not keep them open and fill shelves slowly thinks I?  That way I can get what I wish and you make money!  Reason was not around this morning.  

However , I managed to obtain sufficient to keep me going for a few days and discussed with the excellent checkout lass the world and its problems and put them to right.  Well, we thought so.  No crush at this checkout, the crowds not yet arriving.  I suspect they too made them wait outside later in the day.

It is a strange world in which we live.  Police patrol the park ensuring folk do not lie around in the sun.  Supermarkets employ security guards to quell the potential squabbles over goods.  A cough while walking ensures those closest to you become the furthest away.  Business is boarded up, shops closed, football ceased, economic woes abound at all levels, and Michael Gove still thinks he ought to be in charge.

I wandered about making use of the mobile camera, when I could understand how to use it.  The sun shone and the sky was blue, people passing kept more than six feet away from me, fear is greater than reality!  I expected empty streets at this time but as there is no morning rush, at least not the usual rush it was quiet.  Occasional souls remained freezing at bus stops, trying not to breathe.  The Crows continued to empty dustbins of what food scraps they could find, a lack of takeaways affecting their feeding habits I note, and life continues but at the moment nobody really knows what to do.  How do we react to a virus attack?  This is not a Hollywood movie, praise the Lord, this is serious.  The brute is out there, determined to get us, political leaders handle it in various ways, some blaming others for the mess, some diligently trying the best system they can find, the UK bumbles along claiming to have the best NHS in the world yet failing to provide proper equipment for the staff!  10 years of abject failure to prepare may have a hand in this.  Of course the 3 years old in the White House is handling the emergency with his eyes closed and his wallet wide open, no matter how many suffer.

    
The idea of the Tories saying 'Save the NHS' is quite ironic considering what they have done to the NHS since Thatcher was king!  Saving money has cost a great deal and the Labour Party failed to do anything about it, bar PFI scandals of course.

A second attempt to obtain goods, this time from Sainsburys, was postponed when I saw the queue. It was not worth the wait, I could 'make do and mend' if required.  So I wandered and came back via the park, hoping no police were about or I would have to pretend I was exercising. 

 
Tonight the Chancellor offers cash to the self employed to help them survive.  Generous say some, where does the money come from say others?  He appears to talk in 3 month cycles, I hope he plans in 6 month cycles.  I doubt this beast will finish within 18 months.  Here's hoping.  
So it is on with our new life, not that mine changes much, but around me much changes and will continue to change.  A new depression may be in the offing, good times are not around the corner.
And walking in the chilly air has brought back my cough and throat problem!